Music Degree in Rancho Cucamonga, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Music degree analysis for Rancho Cucamonga, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.9 yrs
in Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
130.5
index (100 = avg)
Music in Rancho Cucamonga, CA Overview
Rancho Cucamonga, California (pop. 177,603) has 7 colleges offering Music programs. The local cost of living index of 130.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,770/month. Although national enrollment in Music has been declining, graduates with skills in Performance and Music Theory remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Rancho Cucamonga is approximately $52,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,368/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,696/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
50%
Music Salary in Rancho Cucamonga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index of 130.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Music salary: $40,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Rancho Cucamonga adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Music ROI Calculator for Rancho Cucamonga
Estimate your return on investment for a Music degree using local Rancho Cucamonga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Rancho Cucamonga avg aid: $13,696/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,525
vs HS diploma in Rancho Cucamonga
ROI Payback Period
18.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rancho Cucamonga
$7,028
Lifetime earnings premium ($130,500) minus total education cost ($123,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Music in Rancho Cucamonga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rancho Cucamonga for Music
Rancho Cucamonga State University
public
$14,832/yr
$59,328 total
University of Rancho Cucamonga
public
$15,603/yr
$62,412 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rancho Cucamonga Community College
$6,383/yr
Top Employers for Music in Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Music graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rancho Cucamonga Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Music Job Titles
Music in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Rancho Cucamonga
Chinese Studies
$72K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$65K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$57K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$65K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$55K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$57K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$59K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$65K starting · 8 yr ROI
Music Degree in Rancho Cucamonga — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Music ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Rancho Cucamonga.